A new season of DWTS? Yep, I'm on it.

Ah, the familiar sounds of spring - birds chirping, mowers mowing, heels clicking on the dance floor. It's time for another round of Dancing With The Stars, and count my dorky self among those who waited anxiously for the cast announcement this week. This time around we're facing a competition without a Hough sibling - something that hasn't happened since Season 3. That can be a good thing or a bad thing, depending on your tolerance for excessive camera mugging and attention-hog shenanigans.

Now that the celebrities (a term that can actually be used this season) have been paired with their pros, let's begin the speculation!

Kirstie Alley and Maksim Chmerkovskiy - Well well well, they finally got her! After several requests from the producers, Ms. Alley herself is bringing her own brand of loopy insanity to the ballroom. But I think the best part of this is that she's paired with Maks. And as we all know, Maks no likey the crazy (see Debi Mazar, Denise Richards). This could be fun to watch, but sadly I get the feeling that our favorite Scientologist will not catch on quickly. Combine that with her partner's impatience and I'm sensing an early "shocker" send off a la David Hasselhoff. Please let me be wrong. Please.

Petra Nemcova and Dmitry Chaplin - I love how one press account says this about Petra's casting - "A model previously linked to James Blunt and Sean Penn." I understand that it's modeling, but can we at least talk about where her image has appeared or who has photographed her? No? Only who she's banged? Lovely, press. Just for that I'm pulling for her. But I hope she's fun to watch, because Dmitry has about as much personality as my kitchen sponge.

Ralph Macchio and Karina Smirnoff - While some 80s heartthrobs have become coke-fueled polygamist tigers with fire breathing fists (I swear I'm not making this up), Ralph Macchio has quietly gone about his life. Now known as a nice family guy who performed with the national touring production of the musical How to Succeed in Business Without Really Trying, he apparently has at least some dancing ability to go with his Karate Kid prowess. It's exactly the easygoing nature that can respond well to Karina's spitfire direction without taking it personally. He just might live to incorporate the Crane move in his freestyle.

Sugar Ray Leonard and Anna Trebunskaya - We cover the "legendary athlete" and "old-ish guy" slots in one fell swoop here. Leonard could move in the boxing ring and he'll be used to Anna's tough training style. But will he be able to express emotion through a face that seems Botoxed into the next decade?

Chris Jericho and Cheryl Burke - I've heard this guy's name in WWE news/discussion so I know he exists. Aaaaaand that's about it. But if he has even the remotest sense of rhythm and musicality, Cheryl can take him farther than most would (see Maurice Green).

Kendra Wilkinson and Louis van Amstel - Out of the three Girls Next Door, Kendra was my least favorite. With her obnoxious laugh and bitchy demeanor, I never thought she fit in with the sweet natures of Holly and Bridget. And when she got her own show I thought, "I'll never watch that crap." But I did. And... dammit, I liked her. She's so much happier and nicer with Hank, but still has that Kendra personality. She can move incredibly well and is paired with a genial yet hard-driving pro in Louis - if he gives her the right choreography, she's a lock for the finals.

Wendy Williams and Tony Dovolani - Poor Tony. He gets a great partner last fall, only to get torpedoed by the Bristol Palin Juggernaut far too soon. And now he has Wendy Williams, who along with Kirstie Alley will amp the crazy woman quotient the likes of which we've never seen. Unlike Maks, however, Tony has a more patient nature. If Wendy can move at all, she could make it for a few weeks on sheer entertainment value. At least that's what Joel McHale hopes.

Romeo and Chelsie Hightower - Let's hope the apple falls reeeeeeaaaaally far from the tree. Romeo's dad is the infamous Master P, a season 2 participant who perhaps was the worst and least enthusiastic contestant in DWTS history. (Although in his defense he was subbing for Romeo, who was originally slated for that season but got injured and had to withdraw.) Good-natured Chelsie has yet to get a partner with a natural feel for dance, so here's hoping Romeo breaks that streak for her.

Disney actress Chelsea Kane and Mark Ballas - My two children have watched the Disney Channel for several years, which means of course that I can quote countless episodes of Hannah Montana and Suite Life On Deck. Yet I have no idea who Chelsea Kane is. I'm sorry, but that's pretty telling. She's partnered with Mark, who is perhaps my least favorite pro. Two strikes already for me. But Disney princesses are generally the singing-acting-dancing triple threat that stage mothers push into show business in the hopes of reclaiming their own lost glory. So unless this girl is a complete bitch, she probably has the skills to stick around for at least half the competition.

Hines Ward and Kym Johnson - He's great on my fantasy football team, but will he bring down Team Cha Cha Cha? Football players historically do well on this show, ranging from respectable finishes to championships. And Kym's back after having been pawed by Uncle Bad Touch in a mercifully short stint by David Hasselhoff. Hopefully Hines will be a bit more serious of a competitor for her.

“Psycho” Mike Catherwood and Lacey Schwimmer - No idea who this guy is. But my general rule is if you have to add an adjective to your name, you're probably not that adjective - you just like to think you are. At least he's handsome, so he's got the eye-candy factor going for him. He also has Lacey, who in my opinion is the best at tailoring choreography to a contestant's personality and strengths. Could be a dark horse for the season if he has the charisma to win over people who have never heard of him. It's been done before, most recently by Kyle Massey when he was paired with... yep, Lacey.

So what do you think? Any thoughts or early predictions? Let me know!